Broccoli variety Sugar Ball - an early-maturing and high-yielding variety, distinguished by a short vegetation period and excellent taste qualities. Maturation occurs within 55-90 days depending on the cultivation method: from 55-60 days after seedling transplanting to 70-90 days when seeds are sown directly into open ground. The plant forms dense, round heads of snow-white color weighing from 0.4 to 1.5 kg, possessing a classic sweet taste without bitterness. Heads are suitable both for fresh consumption and industrial processing, including boiling, frying, salad preparation, canning, and pickling.
The variety is characterized by high plasticity and resistance to adverse weather conditions, including temperature fluctuations and autumn frosts. Broccoli is light- and moisture-loving, preferring fertile, well-prepared soils on sunny sites. To obtain a quality harvest, the seedling method is recommended with transplanting of 35-40-day-old seedlings, as well as direct sowing of seeds at a depth of 1.5-2 cm. The optimal planting scheme varies from 40x60 to 50x30 cm. The plant requires regular watering, loosening, and fertilizing with organic and mineral fertilizers, as well as preventive treatment against pests.
Sugar Ball is undemanding in care and resistant to the main diseases of broccoli, making it accessible for cultivation both in home conditions and on a commercial scale. Yield reaches 2-5 kg per square meter or up to 180 kg per tenk (1/100th of a hectare). Due to simultaneous maturation and good transportability, this variety is in demand on the fresh market and is suitable for cultivation in open ground and film greenhouses in various climatic zones.
